Food Waste Services

Building a Smarter, More Sustainable Food System

A Global Challenge
Nearly 40% of all food produced is lost or wasted, driving environmental harm, financial loss, and growing food insecurity. As the global population moves toward 10 billion by 2050, measurable and scalable waste-reduction practices are essential across the entire food value chain.

Our Role in the Future of Food Waste Reduction
As a leader in food safety, sustainability, and certification, Bureau Veritas North America helps organizations across the supply chain measure, reduce, and verify food waste performance with clarity and consistency.

ISO 20001: The New Global Framework

A Standard Built for Today’s Pressures
ISO is developing ISO 20001: Food Loss and Waste Reduction, a groundbreaking framework that will unify how organizations measure waste, standardize reporting, improve efficiency, and meet rising expectations from consumers, regulators, and sustainability commitments.

BV’s Food Waste Management System

A Proven, ISO-Aligned Approach
Before ISO 20001, Bureau Veritas developed its own Food Waste Management System, a comprehensive, 360° methodology for quantifying, managing, and reducing food waste. Built on ISO’s high-level structure, the FWMS integrates smoothly with ISO 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and GFSI programs for streamlined implementation.

Preparing You for ISO 20001

End-to-End Support
Bureau Veritas helps organizations get ready for the new standard with:

  • Readiness assessments and gap analyses

  • Data collection and measurement planning

  • Staff training and awareness programs

  • Independent verification and certification once ISO 20001 is released

  • Ongoing surveillance and continuous improvement support

A Partner for Long-Term Impact
Our methodology positions organizations not only for compliance, but for leadership in sustainability and food system transformation.

A Structured Framework for Reducing Food Waste

  • Step 1 - Quantify What You Generate

    A successful strategy begins with measurement.

    BV helps organizations:
    - Identify all sources of food loss and waste across the value chain
    - Quantify volumes, root causes, and management pathways
    - Assess upstream supplier and downstream distributor impacts
    - Benchmark carbon emissions related to waste using ISO 14064-1 and GHG Protocol verification

  • Step 2 - Define & Implement a Prevention Plan

    Effective reduction requires clear goals and actionable, measurable strategies.

    We help clients design:
    - Waste prevention and reduction policies
    - Repurposing and recycling pathways aligned with FAO’s waste hierarchy
    - Operational optimizations across farms, processors, retailers, and food service
    - Traceability systems that unlock new value streams (e.g., biofuels, bioplastics)

  • Step 3 - Monitor, Improve, and Report Results

    Continuous surveillance ensures long-term performance.

    BV-supported monitoring includes:
    - Traceability audits
    - Quantified impact reporting
    - Corrective action verification
    - Environmental, social, and economic performance dashboards

Related Services


Food Safety & Certification Programs
Strengthen your systems with global certification, including ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, HACCP and more.

Food Safety & Sustainability Training
Develop your team’s competencies with instructor-led and online courses.
 

Watch the Food Waste & Sustainability Webinar
Explore the future of food waste management and industry trends.
 


A More Sustainable Food System Starts Here

The path to reducing food waste at scale is already underway, and ISO 20001 will play a defining role in shaping the future of global food systems. With deep expertise across sustainability strategy, carbon footprint verification, traceability, organic and regenerative certification, packaging sustainability (ISCC PLUS), and food safety compliance, Bureau Veritas North America is uniquely equipped to support organizations at every stage of the supply chain, from growers and processors to distributors and retailers.

Speak with a BVNA Food Waste Expert


Let us help you build a resilient, efficient, sustainability-first food system.
 

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